December 16, 2019
As this semester draws to a close, I wanted to provide an update on several items and initiatives that I have been working on this semester. The migration of our website to the new framework caused a delay in getting this message out to you sooner. Thanks again to everyone for participating in the Coffee with the Chancellor events this semester. Thanks also for your input on the report from our consultant, Dr. Welty. I met with several stakeholder groups and appreciated reading the feedback that over 40 people provided in the survey.
To continue to help me learn about the campus, I have formed a cross campus and community learning group that I formerly referred to as a transition team. This consists of nearly 20 students, staff, faculty and community members. I am looking forward to meeting with this group yet this month as well as 2-3 times next semester. Thanks to those on the group who were willing to serve in this capacity.
One significant outcome from the consultation of Dr. Welty was to provide insights into our greatest challenges and provide suggestions for how we might address them. The top recommendation he made was to create a more cohesive enrollment management unit. To address this recommendation, I am forming a new Enrollment Management Unit that will report to the EVCAA, effective January 1, 2020. Our enrollment management plans, processes and programs are a top priority and making this change now will allow us to continue to develop more effective strategies. This unit will consist of Admissions, Financial Aid and Scholarships, Registrar, Retention and Student Success (Student Support and Titan Success Center) as well as transfer student recruiting programs. This unit will be led by Cathy Buckman through June 2020. The new EVCAA will make additional decisions on how best to organize these units within the division of Academic Affairs as well as the best leadership. Thanks to Cathy for stepping up on this interim role! These reporting shifts also mean some shifts in Student Engagement and Success. The details are presented and there will be opportunity to ask questions about this new structure at the first Coffee with the Chancellor event in the New Year.
I am excited to report that we have launched the search for a permanent Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (EVCAA). Thanks again to Linda Chen for her continued service as interim EVCAA! I have formed a that met on December 12th to begin the process. We are working with Storbeck Pimentel search consultants, Steve Leo and Vicki Henderson, on the search. The position will be advertised shortly and candidate screening by the committee will begin early in the New Year. A survey has been prepared for members of the campus community to provide input on the priorities, traits, and experiences that you think the next EVCAA should possess. Access the survey with this link: .
I will close with an update on Purdue Polytechnic Institute. They are planning to vacate the building they are leasing from us by the end of June 2020. We will be sad to see the faculty, staff and students of Purdue go, as we have enjoyed having them on campus and building relationships across our institutions. Students will be taking all their classes through Purdue; however, some students may need to take a few of our courses in the transition. We are committed to the success of all of our students and this includes the Purdue students. As part of our overall campus space planning process, we will be establishing a council to make recommendations to me regarding the strategic use of our buildings and spaces. More to come in the Spring semester regarding this Council and the processes it will be using to develop a strategic space plan for the campus.
We have accomplished much this semester and, again, I appreciate everyone’s engagement. I wish you all a wonderful winter break.